Matthieu Perraut’s Ocean Fifty Elvest capsized at 21:05 UTC (22:05 Paris time) on Tuesday, November 3, while racing 400 miles north of the Azores, race organizers announced. The skipper is safe and awaiting rescue, in constant contact with both the race direction and his technical team.
The capsize came on a third day of racing already marked by major setbacks: Jérémie Beyou aboard Charal and Charles Caudrelier aboard Maxi Edmond de Rothschild had both abandoned earlier.
Perraut contacted race direction immediately after the capsize
According to the race organization, Perraut immediately contacted the race direction after his trimaran turned over and informed the organization of the situation. A race communiqué, published at 23:31 Paris time, said only that more information would follow. The circumstances of the capsize, the state of the trimaran, and the rescue resources deployed had not been specified in the reports available.
It is the second capsize of this edition of the solo transatlantic race from Saint-Malo to Guadeloupe. On Monday, November 2, Francis Joyon’s trimaran Océans had turned over off Ireland before the skipper was recovered during the night by a cargo ship.
Where Elvest stood in the Ocean Fifty fleet at 23:00
At the 23:00 ranking, the official standings had not yet taken the capsize into account: Elvest still appeared in the race, sixth of the ten Ocean Fifty entries, 38.86 miles behind the leader, according to the official classification.
| Rank | Skipper, boat | Gap to leader |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basile Bourgnon, Edenred | Leader |
| 2 | Thibaut Vauchel-Camus, Solidaires En Peloton by Delanchy | 13.23 miles |
| 3 | Baptiste Hulin, Viabilis Oceans | 32.37 miles |
| 4 | Pierre Quiroga, Wewise | 33.39 miles |
| 5 | Léonard Legrand, Sodebo Fifty | 36.61 miles |
| 6 | Matthieu Perraut, Elvest | 38.86 miles |
Basile Bourgnon aboard Edenred led the Ocean Fifty class and was the first in the fleet to cross the weather front installed north of the Azores, the race organization said. Elvest had been sailing in the group of chasers, less than 40 miles behind him.
What remains unknown about the capsize
As of the 23:31 Paris communiqué, the race had not disclosed what caused the trimaran to turn over, the condition of the boat, or which rescue assets were being sent. The report would be updated as soon as the organization or the skipper’s team provided more detail. Perraut remained in constant contact with the organization and his technical team while waiting for rescue, the race said.
FAQ
Is Matthieu Perraut safe? Yes. The race organization said the skipper is well, contacted race direction immediately after the capsize, and is awaiting rescue while staying in constant contact with the organization and his team.
When and where did the Elvest capsize? At 21:05 UTC (22:05 Paris time) on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, about 400 miles north of the Azores, on the race’s third day.
Who leads the Ocean Fifty class? At the 23:00 ranking, Basile Bourgnon aboard Edenred led, 13.23 miles ahead of Thibaut Vauchel-Camus and 32.37 miles ahead of Baptiste Hulin.
Has another boat capsized in this Route du Rhum? Yes. On November 2, Francis Joyon’s trimaran Océans capsized off Ireland; he was recovered that night by a cargo ship.
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